Corn Huskin'

This is how we do a Saturday when daddy is workin'. We have a corn huskin' race. Just like they would do back in the 1800's. Children would often partake in rituals like this. Next we are going to shell peas.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Expedition

Maggie has become a fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder and "Little House on the Prairie" TV show. She likes horses, prairie dresses, bonnets, wagons and being barefeet in warm weather. She likes calling Jimmy and I, "Pa" and "Ma". She is amazing and is turning 5 tomorrow. This weekend the whole family went to a Laura Ingalls Wilder expedition and did some fun stuff. We beat mattresses, wrote with a quill, used a washboard and saw some of Laura's stuff. Maggie got her fisrt horse dawn wagon ride with her daddy as her companion. She had fun. Daddy bought her a prairie dress and bonnet as I am still in the process of handsewing her one.

When I was watching her run and play, ride the wagon with her dad, I got teary eyed. She is living my childhood dream and it's because she likes it.

Hezzie in a coonskin cap.

Maggie washing clothes.


Waylon runing in some grass.

Joaquin in a coonskin cap.

Dexter in a coonskin cap.

Paper Chains/ Paper Garlands

These were made in the 1800's as decoration for celebratios of all kinds. We made some blue and red ones today to celebrate Memorial Day. The picture is from google images. (I really need a camera)

Pretzel Log Cabin

We made something similar to what you see at the left. We used pretzel sticks and peanut butter. :)

I am seriously thinking of using the directions on kaboose. Click on picture for those directions.

Behold our bounty

We have been studying, I promise. We have been waiting on some key items for our Lewis and Clark adventure. Oh, how nice it was after a along day to come home and the UPS guy met us with with our brown package. I haved left two items out as they are birthday presents for Maggie.

I ordered a Spencerian Copybook for me as well as the two older kids. I am hoping for a camera soon so I can update some good pictures.

Food

Today my mom took me grocery shopping. We are incorporating more of the food common on the frontier/prairie into our everyday food. It has been a great experience so far. The kids have responded well so far and so has Jimmy. Here is a short list of some of the things we purchased today.

• 4 lbs. Navy Beans


• 4 lbs. Yellow Cornmeal


• 10 lbs Sugar


• 20 lbs Flour


• 2 lbs Salt Pork


• 5 lbs Onions

I know in actuality the quantaties of the time may have been a lot smaller due to the finances not always being strong in some families.

Here are a couple of links for some recipes of the time.

19th Century American Foodways

Food from the Mormon Trail

Random Fact: Up until the 19th Century most children did not eat at the table with their parents, they waited for scraps. During this time children became welcomed at the table and were even given chairs or benches which to sit on at the table.

Common Food Prayer

Bless O Lord, this food to our use,And us to thy loving service;And make us ever mindful of the needs of others,For Jesus' sake. Amen.

Corn Meal : Corn Meal Mush

Corn meal was a staple in the homes of the families of the plains. It was even a staple of food during the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Corn meal during the 1800's was cooked in cast iron cookware.

We are experimenting with cornmeal recipes and will shae them as we find and use them. All food recipes we are currently trying out are cooked in cast iron unless otherwise stated.

CORN MEAL MUSH

2 c. corn meal

7 c. water

1 tbsp. salt
Mix the corn meal in 2 cups of cold water. Bring to a boil the remaining water and salt. Add the corn meal slurry to the boiling water. Cook slowly until thick, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve as a hot cereal with brown sugar, butter and milk.